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Raw Mint Nanaimo Bars

The holiday season is here, so we thought we'd share a version of raw mint nanaimo bars to touch your sweet tooth. Traditionally loaded with powdered sugar, butter, eggs and chocolate, these raw bars will give you all the same flavour with less of the bad stuff!

Instructions

Line the bottom of a 10 x 5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Be sure to leave an overhang, so it's easier to remove the finished bars. Set aside.

In a food processor or Vitamix Blender, process the almonds and walnuts to a coarse meal. Add the dates and continue to process until the dates are broken down.

Add the cacao powder and salt and pulse to combine. The mixture should stick together when pressed between two fingers.

Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and set in the freezer while you make the filling.

For the mint filling:

In your Vitamix or high-speed blender, blend the avocados, mint leaves, agave and mint extract until smooth. You may need to stop and scrap down the sides a few times.

Add the coconut oil and blend for a few seconds to combine. The mixture should be thick and creamy. (If your blender doesn't move the mixture very well, try blending it in batches until smooth.)

Remove the pan from the freezer and pour the mixture on top of the crust, smoothing it out with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Return to the freezer until firm, at least one hour.

For the chocolate topping:

Whisk together all ingredients until smooth. You may need to warm up the mixture if the cacao butter firms up too quickly. You can do this by using a double boiler a very low heat setting to keep it warm while whisking, or by putting the mixture in the dehydrator for a few minutes.

Remove the pan from the freezer again and pour the chocolate topping on top of the avocado filling, smoothing it out quickly with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Return to the freezer one last time until the topping is set.

To cut:

For best results, remove the bar from the pan by pulling up on the parchement paper and set on a cutting board. Place a sharp serrated knife in a jar of hot water for several minutes, wipe it on a kitchen towel and then use light sawing motions with the knife to cut into squares. Warm the knife in the water as needed to cut all squares. Store bars in an air-tight container in the freezer.